Peabody Insurance Blog

Injuries resulting from slips and falls can be devastating. And colder temperatures bring especially hazardous conditions.
Prevention
Education is essential in preventing winter weather-related injuries. Consider the following recommendations to prevent slip and fall injuries during the winter months:
Wear the proper footwear that provides traction on snow and ice. Footwear should be made of anti-slip material; avoid plastic and leather-soled shoes or boots.
Exercise caution when entering and exiting vehicles, and use the vehicle for balance and support.
Try to walk on...
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Benefits for Your Company
Return to work programs reduce employees’ days away from work, allow employees to recover more quickly and foster a more positive work environment.
Implementing a return to work program can benefit your company financially by:
Anticipating and controlling hidden costs
Reducing the financial impact of workplace injuries
Providing a proactive approach to cost containment
Improving your ability to manage an injury claim and any restrictions
Getting your experienced employees back to work, resulting in less time and money spent on rec...
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While the flu has similar symptoms as a the common cold—sore throat, cough, and a runny nose—the flu can result in far more devastating consequences. This is especially true among seniors, who can experience hospitalization or even death. Between 2010 and 2016, a range of 12,000 to 56,000 people died every year because of the flu, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and many of them were people over the age of 65.
The flu is preventable, too, with vaccines and other preventative measures, so let’s discuss exactly what the flu is, what it looks li...
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It may be time to ask your independent insurance agent to review your policy. Agents have the software and knowledge to evaluate your risk, and you may find your risk is higher than you think. That’s because replacement cost can be affected by several factors that many people don’t consider.
Rebuilding costs – Rebuilding a home is more expensive than building from scratch. Site accessibility, building codes and economies of scale all play a part. After a neighborhood of homes is established, removing debris and taking in heavy equipment can be more time-consuming and ...
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1. Change your passwords every 90 days. This might seem like a hassle at first, but hackers have a better chance at cracking your passwords if they never change. It’s also a good idea to avoid reusing passwords.
2. Make your passwords at least eight characters long. Generally, the longer a password is, the harder it is to guess.
3. Don’t use the same password for each account. Hackers target lower security websites and then test cracked passwords on higher security sites. Make sure each account has a different password.
4. Include uppercase let...
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The 2018 top 10 list of most frequently cited standards didn’t change significantly from 2017, with fall protection violations staying on top of the list. In fact, the top seven standards remained the same. Read below to learn more details on the top 10 most cited OSHA standards.
Top 10 OSHA Violations
Fall Protection (29 CFR 1926.501): 7,270 Citations
Falls from ladders and roofs still account for most injuries at work. Identifying fall hazards and finding the best way to protect workers should be your first step when improving safety in the workplace. Some potential so...
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We want you to have all the information that you need to navigate this trying experience with ease. Here’s how to maneuver through this process:
Get out of your car and provide assistance to anyone who is injured.
Call the police or highway patrol immediately. They can call emergency personnel for you, if needed.
Protect the accident scene by setting up flares, putting up cones or moving your car off the road.
Once the police arrive, give them as much information as you can concerning what occurred. Do not admit fault; just give the facts.
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The way you utilize a vacation property and how often it’s occupied has a direct impact on the kinds of insurance you will need. Vacation property insurance is typically provided as a “named perils” policy. This essentially means that coverage for vacation homes is not comprehensive, and owners must secure coverage for specific risks, like fires or explosions. In order to properly protect their investment, vacation homeowners should consider the following types of coverage:
Contents coverage—Typically, standard home insurance policies protect any property that yo...
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Have A Disaster Plan
The last thing you want is for a disaster or emergency to take place and you or your family members don't know what to do. As part of your preparation, establish a disaster plan. This plan covers what your family should do in case of an emergency, from how to escape every room of your home in case of fire, to who to call if there are no adults at home. List out all exits of the home, all important phone numbers, and copies of all insurance cards and anything else you may need to grab in a hurry. Make sure all adults, teenagers, and any children old enough to get out wi...
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This loss control information is advisory only. The author assumes no responsibility for management or control of loss control activities. Not all exposures are identified in this article. Visit your local, independent agent for insurance coverage information and advice.
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Although cellphones can be a necessary method of communication on job sites, they distract workers from potential hazards and recommended safety practices. And, despite an absence of OSHA regulations pertaining exclusively to cellphones on the job site, OSHA can cite employers for violating the General Duty Clause, which states the requirement to provide a workplace free from recognized hazards.
Employers can also violate OSHA’s cranes and derricks standard by allowing cellphones on the job site, since it states, “The [crane or derrick] operator must not engage in any practice...
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Many owners of smaller businesses make assumptions about Employment Practices Liability Insurance – and some of those assumptions are not true. EPLI coverage provides vital protection for a small business.
EPLI provides a limit of insurance, separate from the standard commercial policy, to protect your business operations against many actual or alleged wrongful acts. Those could include personnel and staffing matters, hiring and firing or allegations of discrimination in the workplace. Because circumstances can vary widely, it’s important to assess your situation, consult with...
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A well-known food company recalled two brand-name food products after four customers reported finding metal parts in their food. One of the world’s best-selling auto brands faced an airbag recall. And lettuce grown in Arizona caused dozens of illnesses in 35 states.
Product recalls like these are often in the news. They’re especially prominent when the federal government mandates that a company pull a supply of its product off the market based on safety concerns that affect consumers. A business can also trigger its own product recall when it suspects a defect or tampering coul...
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Under the federal Occupational Safety and Health Act, businesses are required to maintain safe workplaces. “Employers take very seriously the importance of making rules for the workplace and establishing a particular tone or culture within its employee teams,” notes John Harrison, an attorney with Ogletree Deakins in Dallas and Nashville, Tenn. Those efforts generally include prohibiting dangerous items like guns and knives as well as disruptive behaviors such as drug use, gambling and fighting.
So how can HR professionals reconcile their workplace safety obligations with emplo...
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Below is a look at how teens drive these days. This information will give you and your client a better understanding of the risks teen drivers pose so that you can help guide them through this important life event, provide ways for them to save money and most importantly, prepare them for a conversation with their teen about driving safety.
Next steps
To help ease the pain point of the associated teen driver rate increase talk to your agent about any discounts available. ...
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Insurance is complex. Our firm delivers tens of thousands of insurance policies on an annual basis and I would predict that less than 1% of them are opened and read. Why? It is because insurance policies are confusing and in today’s fast paced business climate, business owners and company employees have much better (more profitable) use for their time. Sound about right? There is one exception...
If you want to control your insurance cost - understand your Experience MOD.
What is an experience MOD? It is a factor built into your work comp program that will make a $10,000 work co...
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